Connectable electric device to a textile electrically conductive band

ABSTRACT

Electric device with electric connection means suitable for connecting it to an electric power source, comprising a supporting surface for a textile electrically conductive band and retention means for retaining the textile electrically conductive band on supporting surface. Electric connection means comprise piercing means for piercing the textile electrically conductive band which are suitable for conducting an electric current. Textile electrically conductive band is made of double weaving and comprises two mutually parallel electrically conductive guides extending along the band. Each of the electrically conductive guides is located between two layers of textile material of said double weaving.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation application, which claims priority to United States application number U.S. Ser. No. 17/601,996 filed Oct. 7, 2021, which is a national phase application of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/055300 filed Feb. 28, 2020, which claims priority to European Application No. EP 19382260.8 filed Apr. 8, 2019. The entireties of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to an electric device with electric connection means suitable for connecting the electric device to an electric power source. The invention further refers to an electric system comprising an electric device according to the invention and a textile electrically conductive band according to the invention.

BACKGROUND

Electrically conductive textile bands are known. However, these textile bands which, for example, serve the purpose of transmitting data or preventing the accumulation of electrostatic electricity, have a number of drawbacks. For example:

-   -   the conductive threads are at sight,     -   they only withstand low voltages and/or intensities of electric         current,     -   they have poor mechanical properties,     -   etc.

Nevertheless, there is the need of solving these drawbacks and marketing a system allowing the fast, simple, versatile connection of electric devices to an electric power source, including cases in which it is necessary a relatively high electric power supply (such as, for example, in the case of lighting units), and ensuring a suitable electric insulation.

FR2835973A1 discloses a connecting device for a textile electrically conductive band provided with jacketed wires. The device comprises a first metallic part which forms a holder delimitated by walls with sharped edges, and a second part which engages in said holder for trapping the textile electrically conductive band. The engagement of the second part in the first part causes the jacketed wires to be stripped at the sharped edges of the holder, so that an electric contact is established between the wires and the first part.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is overcoming these drawbacks. This object is achieved by means of an electric device of the above-indicated type, wherein said electric device comprises a supporting surface for a textile electrically conductive band and retention means for retaining the textile electrically conductive band on the supporting surface, said electric connection means comprising piercing means for piercing the textile electrically conductive band, wherein the piercing means are suitable for conducting an electric current, characterized in that the piercing means comprise two sets of needles emerging from the supporting surface.

The electric device according to the invention allows incorporating one or several optional alternatives and improvements:

Preferably, each set of needles comprises between 4 and 12 needles, and more preferably, between 6 and 10 needles. Advantageously, the needles of each set of needles are distributed in between 1 and 3 rows, preferably in 2 rows. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the needles project between 1.5 and 3.5 mm with respect to the supporting surface, and preferably project between 2.2 and 2.8 mm with respect to the supporting surface. These options provide a fast simple way of connecting the electric element to the textile electrically conductive band, and ensure a good electric contact, both for its distribution and amount of needles, and for being able to traverse the non-conductive portion of the textile electrically conductive band, but without totally traversing said textile electrically conductive band.

-   -   The retention means comprise an arch arranged on the supporting         surface, where the arch comprises a lever suitable for rotating         around the arch between a release position and a retention         position, the lever comprising a cam suitable for tightening the         textile electrically conductive band on the supporting surface         when it is in the retention position. This mechanism allows         mechanically fixing the electric element in the textile         electrically conductive band, while it allows establishing the         electric connection. It does not require any tools and it is         extremely simple to carry out, without needing to have any         skilled staff to do it.     -   The piercing means are adjacent to the lever. In this way, it is         taken the most advantage of the compression force exerted by the         lever on the textile electrically conductive band, and it is         ensured that the piercing means suitably pierce the textile         electrically conductive band. Preferably, when the lever is in         the retention position, it rests on the band covering the         piercing means, given that, in this way, the same lever serves         as a protection element and prevents anyone from touching the         textile electrically conductive band above the piercing means.         Preferably, the arch is formed by a C-shaped part with the ends         of the C connected to the electric device below the supporting         surface, and preferably the retention means comprise a second         arch arranged on the supporting surface, wherein the arch and         the second arch define a passage for the textile electrically         conductive band. As will be detailed in the Figures, these         preferred embodiments allow a very quick simple assembly and         disassembly of the electric device, without the need of any         tools.     -   The electric device may be any, but preferably it is a lighting         unit with at least a light source which is electrically         connected to the electric connection means or it is an electric         sensor.

A further object of the invention is an electric system comprising an electric device according to the invention and the textile electrically conductive band. The textile electrically conductive band may incorporate the following one or more optional alternatives and improvements:

-   -   The textile electrically conductive band is made of double         weaving and comprises two mutually parallel electrically         conductive guides extending along said band, wherein each of         said electrically conductive guides is located between two         layers of textile material of said double weaving.     -   Each of the electrically conductive guides may be formed by a         plurality of metal threads, preferably of copper, where the         metal threads do not have any insulating covering. It is         particularly interesting that the electrically conductive         threads do not have any insulating covering, so that, upon         contacting the piercing means, an electric contact is         immediately established. In this way, the piercing means must         simply pierce the fabric of the textile electrically conductive         band wrapping the metal threads, but they must not pierce any         type of covering insulating each metal thread in an individual         fashion.     -   Each of the electrically conductive guides has a width comprised         between 0.3 and 1.5 cm, preferably between 0.5 and 0.7 cm.     -   Each guide is formed by 2 to 20 metal threads, preferably 6 to         10 metal threads. A smaller amount of threads does not ensure a         good electric connection, while a higher amount of threads is         unnecessary.     -   Between the two electrically conductive guides, there is a         separation comprised between 0.3 and 1.8 cm, preferably between         0.7 and 1.1 cm. The minimum separation is enough to guarantee         that a short-circuit cannot occur due to the fact that the metal         threads of one guide electrically contact the metal threads of         the other guide. Higher separations to those indicated         unnecessarily enlarge the width of the textile electrically         conductive band.     -   The metal threads are copper threads and have a cross-section         comprised between 0.10 and 0.35 mm². These sections allow         ensuring an enough electric power supply (for example, for using         LED lighting units) and, however, have enough flexibility for         the textile electrically conductive band not to be excessively         “stiffened”.     -   The textile electrically conductive band is formed with threads         of polymer material, preferably of polyester. Preferably, the         threads of polymer material have 50 to 500 tex.     -   The textile electrically conductive band has a weft with 10 to         50 threads/cm and/or a warp with 10 to 60 threads/cm.     -   These alternatives (either alone or in combination) allow         obtaining a textile electrically conductive band combining the         properties and features of textile band in general (mechanical         properties, appearance, texture, flexibility, possible         decoration, etc.) but, further, they allow a suitable insulation         of the metal threads without making it difficult for the         piercing means to access the metal threads and establishing a         good electric connection.

Preferably, the textile electrically conductive band has a total width comprised between 2 and 4 cm, preferably between 2.4 and 2.6 cm.

As indicated before, preferably the textile electrically conductive band is totally made of double weaving, thereby providing it with a better appearance. Nevertheless, it is advantageous that the two layers of double weaving are interlaced to one another by 4 to 21 warp threads per cm.

A further object of the invention is a textile electrically conductive band as previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features of the invention are apparent from the following description, in which, without being a limitation, reference is made to preferred embodiments of the invention, mentioning the attached drawings. The figures show:

FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a first embodiment of a system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1 before being assembled.

FIG. 3 , a side elevation view of the system according to FIG. 1 with the arches being separated.

FIGS. 4 and 5 , a perspective and side elevation view, respectively, of the assembly formed by a lever with its corresponding arch.

FIG. 6 , a longitudinal cut of the system of FIG. 1 according to a plane comprising one of the piercing means.

FIG. 7 , an enlarged view of region “B” of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 , an equivalent view to FIG. 7 but with the lever in a half-open position.

FIG. 9 , an upper perspective view of an exploded sub-assembly, of the system of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 10 , a bottom perspective view of the sub-assembly of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 , a perspective view of a second embodiment of a system according to the invention.

FIG. 12 , a perspective view of the connection means of the system of FIG. 11 .

FIG. 13 , a longitudinal cut of the system of FIG. 11 according to a plane comprising one of the piercing means.

FIG. 14 , an enlarged view of region “D” of FIG. 13 .

FIG. 15 , an equivalent view to FIG. 14 , but with the lever in a half-open position.

FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 , a bottom plan, side and front elevation view, of a support comprising the supporting surface of the system of FIG. 11 .

FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 , a side elevation, front elevation and top plan view, respectively, of a set of needles of the system of FIG. 11 .

FIG. 22 , a perspective view of a third embodiment of a system according to the invention.

FIG. 23 , a partial perspective view, of the region of the system of FIG. 22 corresponding to the connection means.

FIG. 24 , a partial side elevation view, of the region of the system of FIG. 22 corresponding to the connection means.

FIG. 25 , a longitudinal sectional view of the region of FIG. 24 .

FIG. 26 , a sectional view according to line CC of FIG. 24 .

FIG. 27 , a weaving draft of a first embodiment of a textile electrically conductive band according to the invention.

FIG. 28 , a picture of a textile electrically conductive band made according to the weaving draft of FIG. 27 .

FIG. 29 , a weaving draft of a second embodiment of a textile electrically conductive band according to the invention.

FIG. 30 , a picture of a textile electrically conductive band made according to the weaving draft of FIG. 29 .

FIGS. 31 to 36 , 6 weaving drafts of different embodiments of a textile electrically conductive band according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 10 show a first embodiment of a system according to the invention. The system comprises an electric device 1, particularly a lighting unit 1, with electric connection means 2 for connecting the lighting unit 1 to a textile electrically conductive band 3, which is an electric power source, as will be described hereinafter. The lighting unit 1 has a support 4, which upper surface has a supporting surface 5 for the textile electrically conductive band 3. Textile electrically conductive band 3 is fixed to supporting surface 5 by retention means comprising a C-shaped arch 6 having its two ends fixed to support 4 by a snap-fitting system enabling the rotation of arch 6 through an axis passing by the two ends. The snap-fitting system is reversible. In the central portion of arch 6, a lever 7 fixed to arch 6 is mounted by a snap-fitting system enabling the rotation of lever 7 around an axis passing by the central section of the C. A second arch 8, also C-shaped but with less height, is also fixed in support 4. Arch 6 and second arch 8 are aligned to one another such that they define a passage above the supporting surface 5 through which textile electrically conductive band 3 extends.

Lever 7 has a cam 9 so that, upon rotating lever 7, cam 9 contacts textile electrically conductive band 3 and presses it against supporting surface 5.

Supporting surface 5 has two holes through which two sets of needles 10 project, these sets of needles being the piercing means. In this embodiment, each set of needles 10 is formed by two mutually parallel rows, with 6 needles each. The two sets of needles 10 are close to the arch 6. In this way, the force exerted by cam 9 pushing textile electrically conductive band 3 against the supporting surface clearly affects the portion of the textile electrically conductive band 3 which is above the sets of needles 10.

When lever 7 is in the retention position (see, for example, FIG. 7 ), lever 7 is located above the portion of the textile electrically conductive band 3 which is on the sets of needles 10. This portion of textile electrically conductive band 3 is thereby totally protected.

FIGS. 11 to 21 show a second embodiment of a system according to the invention. It shares a plurality of elements (except for, in some instances, geometrical differences which are not relevant for the invention) to which the same reference has been assigned and therefore, are not described again. In this embodiment, it is shown in more detail the sets of needles 10 which, in this case, are each formed by two mutually parallel rows, with two needles in each row. The needles of each set are fixed to a printed circuit board 11, which, in turn, is electrically connected to the rest of electric device 1 (not shown in the FIGS.). FIG. 16 shows support 4 seen from below (that is, by the opposite face to supporting surface 5) and there can be seen two spaces 12 provided for housing the printed circuit boards 11 and holes 13 for the passage of the needles.

FIGS. 22 to 26 show another embodiment of a system according to the invention. In this case, electric device 1 is an enlarged straight lighting unit, so that supporting surface 5 is flat (in the previous cases, it was convex). Nevertheless, the operation of the invention is the same. The same references have been used again for equal or equivalent elements to those of the previous embodiments. In this example, support 4 is the whole back portion of the lighting unit (in fact, it is the main body of lighting unit 1) and it is a remarkably elongated rectangle parallelepiped. Supporting surface 5 extends throughout the complete surface of support 4, but lever 7 is again very close to the sets of needles 10, thereby ensuring the effectiveness of the force exerted by cam 9.

FIG. 27 shows the weaving draft of textile electrically conductive band 3 of FIG. 28 . It comprises two electrically conductive guides 14, each with 8 metal threads 15 (indicated in dark grey), in particular of bare copper, that is, without any insulating covering. In a certain point (not shown in the FIGS.), metal threads 15 of each one of the electrically conductive guides 14 are connected to an electric power source, so that they can transmit electric power to the electric connection means 2 of electric device 1. The details of this example are the following:

-   -   88 warp threads used in total     -   19.5 weft threads per cm     -   weaving reed 50/10 cm, draft 6 threads     -   100 picks per minute     -   on the right side: warp threads 89 and 90 are not         integrated/drawn in     -   shaft 11 without point of interlacing (therefore, the copper         threads are not parallel and are more compact in between the two         textile layers)     -   shaft 5 without point of interlacing

FIGS. 29 and 30 are another weaving draft with the corresponding textile electrically conductive band 3. The details of this example are the following:

-   -   89 warp threads integrated/drawn in in total     -   20 weft threads per cm     -   weaving reed 50/10 cm, draft 6 threads     -   100 picks per minute

FIGS. 31 to 36 show 6 additional weaving drafts. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. Electric device with electric connection means suitable for connecting said electric device to an electric power source, wherein said electric device comprises a supporting surface for a textile electrically conductive band and retention means for retaining said textile electrically conductive band on said supporting surface, said electric connection means comprising piercing means for piercing said textile electrically conductive band, wherein said piercing means are suitable for conducting an electric current; wherein said retention means comprise an arch arranged on said supporting surface, wherein said retention means comprise a lever suitable for rotating around said arch between a release position and a retention position, said lever comprising a cam suitable for pressing said textile electrically conductive band on said supporting surface when said lever is in said retention position.
 2. Electric device according to claim 1, wherein said piercing means comprise two sets of needles emerging from said supporting surface.
 3. Electric device according to claim 2, wherein each set of needles comprises between 4 and 12 needles.
 4. Electric device according to claim 2, wherein said needles project between 1.5 and 3.5 mm with respect to said supporting surface.
 5. Electric device according to claim 1, wherein said piercing means are adjacent to said lever.
 6. Electric device according to claim 1, wherein when said lever is in said retention position, said lever rests on said textile electrically conductive band covering said piercing means.
 7. Electric device according to claim 1, wherein said arch is formed by a C-shaped part with the ends of said C connected to said electric device below said supporting surface.
 8. Electric device according to claim 1, wherein said retention means comprise a second arch arranged on said supporting surface, where said arch and said second arch define a passage for said textile electrically conductive band.
 9. Electric device according to claim 1, wherein said electric device is a lighting unit with at least a light source which is electrically connected to said electric connection means, or in that said electric device is an electric sensor.
 10. Electric system comprising an electric device according to claim 1 and said textile electrically conductive band.
 11. Electric system according to claim 10, wherein said textile electrically conductive band is made of double weaving and comprises two mutually parallel electrically conductive guides extending along said textile electrically conductive band, where each of said electrically conductive guides is located between two layers of textile material of said double weaving.
 12. Electric system according to claim 11, wherein each of said electrically conductive guides is formed by a plurality of metal threads, where said metal threads do not have any insulating covering and each of said electrically conductive guides has a width comprised between 0.3 and 1.5 cm.
 13. Electric system according to claim 11, wherein between the two electrically conductive guides, there is a separation comprised between 0.3 and 1.8 cm.
 14. Electric system according to claim 11, wherein said textile electrically conductive band is formed with threads of polymer material and said threads of polymer material have 50 to 500 tex.
 15. Electric system according to claim 11, wherein said textile electrically conductive band has a weft with 10 to 50 threads/cm and/or a warp with 10 to 60 threads/cm.
 16. Electric system according to claim 11, wherein the two layers of said double weaving are interlaced to one another by 4 to 21 warp threads per cm. 